Chapter 384: Secret Guidance from True Lord Magnetic Pole

Chapter 384: The Secret Guidance of True Lord Magnetic Pole

Outside the arena, Shi Huaiyu, Che Yufei, and the others emerged, their faces wreathed in smiles.

Che Yufei thought to himself, "We made the top ten; the extra repair fees were worth it."

He couldn't help but glance at Zhang Yu, his eyes filled with profound shock.

"To hold off Ma Xuan and his group single-handedly for so long—this guy could already go toe-to-toe with upperclassmen, couldn't he? And he’s only a sophomore."

Che Yufei felt as though he were witnessing the rise of a new star in Civil Engineering, much like the Mo Shangjin he had seen years ago.

Nearby, Shi Yunxiang, Shi Huaiyu, and the others looked at Zhang Yu with a mixture of awe and admiration.

Shi Huaiyu asked with concern, "Are you alright? How are your injuries?"

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. "I'm fine, it’s manageable."

After a brief word with his teammates, Zhang Yu stepped away from the crowd. Staring at the message from True Lord Magnetic Pole, he mused, "Fu Ji, what do you think the True Lord means by this?"

Fu Ji replied, "Isn't it obvious? After watching your performance in the competition alongside Director Gao, he’s clearly taken an interest in you."

"Setting conditions for you now is a clear sign of his intention to take you on as a disciple."

"After all, based on my years of experience traversing the Kunxu Realm..."

Fu Ji paused, then added, "With the potential you’ve displayed, even if you lack a natural talent for artifact forging, you have at least the aptitude to become a master."

At these words, Zhang Yu’s first instinct was to calculate how much his own flesh and bones might fetch on the market.

His heart sank immediately; he chided himself for being too deeply influenced by the Kunxu culture. How could he harbor such thoughts?

Zhang Yu shook his head. "No. If I’m going into the artifact forging industry, why export raw materials? I want to pursue high-end manufacturing; that is the only true path forward."

Fu Ji said, "Then perform well, take more forging courses, and secure the True Lord's reward as soon as possible."

"No, you should beat his deadline. He wants you to finish three years of coursework by the end of your sophomore year—you should aim to finish three or even six months early. Like a peacock spreading its tail, show him your talent in full bloom to pave the way for your transfer."

Director Gao: I’ll have someone send more medicine over in a while.

Director Gao: If your wounds aren't healed before the next round, don't bother participating.

Staring at the message, Zhang Yu hesitated. "If I keep colluding with True Lord Magnetic Pole and eventually defect to the Forging Department, won't I be betraying Director Gao?"

Fu Ji: "You mean taking Director Gao’s benefits and eating the Civil Engineering Department’s resources, only to become a 'Civil Engineering mole' and defect to the ace department?"

"Isn't that the path every Civil Engineering student strives for?"

"You are progressing, moving toward the Forging Department. But what about Director Gao? Do you really want to sink into the abyss of Civil Engineering with him forever?"

Zhang Yu said, "It’s not that I shouldn't do it, but... if I perform too well and consume too many of the department's resources, will they even let me go? And if I leave, will they retaliate?"

The thought of being targeted by a Nascent Soul True Lord made Zhang Yu nervous.

Fu Ji: "Once you’re in the Forging Department, you’ll be under the True Lord’s protection. Theoretically, you should be fine."

"If you're worried, just ask the True Lord and sound him out."

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and sent a message: True Lord, are you and Director Gao close?

True Lord Magnetic Pole: We have been close friends for many years.

Seeing the instant reply, Zhang Yu sighed, "Once you rank in the competition, even the teachers reply faster."

True Lord Magnetic Pole: I know what you are worried about.

True Lord Magnetic Pole: Old Gao is indeed petty when it comes to personnel matters.

True Lord Magnetic Pole: But I am not as calculating as he is.

True Lord Magnetic Pole: As long as you are outstanding enough to meet my requirements, I don't need the formality of a master-disciple bond.

True Lord Magnetic Pole: I can guide you in secret, allowing you to earn a second degree in Artifact Forging.

Reading the reply, Zhang Yu’s eyes brightened. "The True Lord is actually quite reasonable."

Fu Ji thought to herself, "Why do I get the feeling this guy just wants to use the Civil Engineering Department's resources to train his own student?"

"After all, Zhang Yu will eventually have to take the entrance exam for the Forging Department, won't he? He’ll end up in the True Lord’s hands regardless."

Director Gao: Where are you? Why aren't you replying?

Zhang Yu quickly typed: I wasn't feeling well, I didn't see it in time.

Director Gao: Then get some rest.

Having ended his conversations with both the True Lord and the Director, Zhang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. "That top-ten finish was well worth it."

Although the official rewards hadn't arrived yet, he could already feel the benefits.

"I suppose I’m one step closer to the Forging Department now, aren't I?"

Just then, a commotion broke out nearby. Zhang Yu turned to see a conflict erupting among Ma Xuan’s group.

Ji Yuanxu: "There were four of you! Four whole people!"

Thinking of the karmic backlash looming over him, Ji Yuanxu roared, "One senior, one fifth-year, two sixth-years!"

"In a confined space, the four of you couldn't subdue a single sophomore?"

Bu Ziran sneered, "What’s your ranking in the department? What was your damage contribution in this match? What was your combat duration? You don't know a damn thing."

Ji Yuanxu raged, "This match isn't just about data! It was your tactics that kept me on the outside! I was busy helping Cong Na dodge Shi Huaiyu’s pursuit..."

At that moment, the team’s substitutes approached, demanding refunds from Ma Xuan.

Yang Yan and Ji Susu looked grim as they stared at the invoice from the Dharma Skeleton Rental Company. Ma Xuan was distracted, his eyes drifting toward the arena.

After a heated argument, the team scattered in different directions.

Ma Xuan returned to the arena to begin salvaging the sand-silver.

Ji Yuanxu turned to glare at Zhang Yu with hatred before storming off without looking back.

His heart was filled with bitterness: "The War Faction, you win."

Meanwhile, feeling the turbulent karma in his mind, Ji Yuanxu knew that failing to reach the top ten meant a more terrifying backlash was imminent.

This was the result of triggering yet another karmic backlash before the last one had even been fully neutralized.

He had no choice but to message Director Lin.

Ji Yuanxu: Master, I am in urgent need of funds.

After waiting a long time with no reply, Ji Yuanxu messaged his many seniors, but not a single one responded.

Finally, he messaged the evil god who had helped him perform the ritual.

Evil God: Buy another credit card.

Ji Yuanxu: A double card?

Evil God: A double-card cycle. Use luck to suppress luck, and you can delay the backlash once more.

Ji Yuanxu: But I have no money left.

Evil God: Don't you still have that newly purchased Dharma Skeleton?

……

Zhang Yu withdrew his gaze from Ji Yuanshu’s departing silhouette, turning to find Yu Xinghan, Ying Xin, and Gongshu Jin rushing over from the substitutes’ bench.

Ying Xin called out "Senior Brother" and waited obediently to the side, gazing at Zhang Yu with the reverence one might reserve for a distinguished upperclassman.

She mused to herself, "If I can manage to snag a spot on the bench every year, wouldn't that mean extra credit annually?"

"But the competition will surely be fiercer next year, won't it?"

"No matter, I must return and burn a bit more of Grandfather’s ashes to send to Senior Brother."

Gongshu Jin felt a profound complexity, thinking, "It seems... I shall never attain the top rank in the class."

The prospect of living his entire university career under the shadow of Zhang Yu cast a pall of gloom over his heart.

Yu Xinghan, observing Zhang Yu’s blood-drenched state, knew his constitution was extraordinary, yet could not help but ask, "How are you holding up? Do you have enough for the medical bills?"

The others turned their eyes toward him as well, and Xiao Qingxuan remarked coolly, "I shall accompany him to the infirmary to have him checked out."

Zhang Yu nodded, "Very well, I will go with Xiao Qingxuan."

"Director Gao may send someone with medicine shortly; please collect it for me."

Following behind Xiao Qingxuan, Zhang Yu asked with curiosity, "Are you going to treat my wounds?"

Xiao Qingxuan let out a cold snort, "Why? Are you not worried that ancient medical arts might ruin you?"

Zhang Yu offered an awkward smile; though his injuries appeared grave, thanks to Xiao Qingxuan’s treatment on the field and his own physical vitality, his internal injuries were largely mended, and many external wounds had begun to knit together. His condition was, by all accounts, stable.

Xiao Qingxuan said calmly, "The treatment was timely, and your constitution is robust. It seems there is no major issue; provided you rest well, take your medicine, and avoid strenuous activity, you should be fully recovered in a day or two."

Zhang Yu asked, "Can you not treat me further? I have another match to fight."

Xiao Qingxuan cast a sidelong glance, "Another match? Is reaching the top ten not enough? You intend to win the next one as well?"

Zhang Yu countered, "Is that not possible?"

After a moment of silence, Xiao Qingxuan replied slowly, "I lack a medical license; I cannot perform paid treatments."

Zhang Yu suggested, "Then you could treat me for free."

Xiao Qingxuan laughed in exasperation, "To my knowledge, those who dare to openly offer free medical services are invariably silenced by the pharmaceutical corporations."

Yet, after glancing at a message from Director Gao, she relented, "Forget it, I shall treat you a little more."

"But remember, my healing abilities are also logged in the pharmaceutical companies' databases. Treating you in secret like this is one thing, but to treat others would be courting death. Once the competition ends, do not come looking for me, and certainly do not introduce anyone else to me."

"Furthermore, understand that there are no weaklings among the top ten teams. If you encounter a team far superior to ours in the next round, learn to concede; do not throw your life away."

Director Gao: Treat him; I will handle the rest.

……

Elsewhere.

As Ma Xuan packed away his silver sand, he received a message from Su Yanyang.

Su Yanyang: I watched your match; that is not how civil engineering competitions are fought.

Su Yanyang: Civil engineering is about construction. If you insist on fighting and fighting, you might as well join the war faction.

Ma Xuan: I thought I could overwhelm them in one wave.

Su Yanyang: You rely too heavily on brute force; you have lost the true essence of the civil engineering competition.

Su Yanyang: Spend another year refining yourself. Learn more about construction techniques; stop trying to solve every problem with violence.

Ma Xuan: Yes, yes, I understand.

Just as Ma Xuan thought the exchange had concluded, a moment later, Su Yanyang sent another message: Tournament_Schedule.img

Ma Xuan examined the bracket and realized that Su Yanyang’s next opponent was none other than Zhang Yu’s team.

Su Yanyang: Watch closely and learn how I play the civil engineering competition.

(End of chapter)